Nfl Picks: Week 15

Week 15 of the 2017 NFL season is upon us, and Carson Wentz's season-ending ACL tear shows us that Roger Goodell has indeed succeeded in making the NFL a safer place,at least for doctors. The rule changes under the Goodell regime have succeeded in cutting down on concussions to a degree, but this comes at a price, the creation of a rash of lower-body injuries.  While the NFL has succeeded in protecting itself from liability, it has created an epidemic of leg and lower-body injuries.

Meanwhile, the NFL is trying to be college with two Saturday games this week (why play on Saturday?). The Bears travel to Detroit to take on the Lions and the Chargers travel to KC totake on the Chiefs this Saturday.  Who will win?  Here are some picks.

Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions. Even after destroying the Bengals, the Bears are who I think they are, a pretty bad football team.  The Lions should win this game at home.  Final score: Lions 24, Bears 17.

LA Chargers @ KC Chiefs. This week, the Chargers and Chiefs compete for the AFCW divisional crown.  The Chargers come in to face a Chiefs team that has been woefully inconsistent this season, especially lately.  The Chargers should win this one.  Final score: Chargers 14, Chiefs 7.

Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills. Jay Cutler just played a really good game for Miami and beat the Patriots. Can he make it 2 in a row at Buffalo?  I'm going with Miami in this one.  Final score: Dolphins 24, Bills 14.

Green Bay Packers @ Carolina Panthers. The return of Aaron Rodgers is upon us, and the Packers deliver a hard-fought win on the road this week.  Packers win.  Final score: Packers 28, Panthers 21.

Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns.This week the old Cleveland Browns travel to Cleveland to take on the new Cleveland Browns. The old Cleveland Browns win.  Final score: Ravens 24, Browns 17.

Houston Texans @ Jacksonville Jaguars. Without Deshaun Watson in Houston, the Jaguars roll to their 10th win of the season.  Final score: Jaguars 35, Texans 21.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Minnesota Vikings.This week the Bungles get beaten by the Vikings after an embarrassing loss to the Chicago Bears.  Final score: Vikings 35, Bengals 14.

New York Jets @ New Orleans Saints. Without McCown, the Jets' season is over.  Saints win.  Final score: Saints 35, Jets 20.

Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Giants. Even without Carson Wentz, the Eagles are good enough to destroy the Giants.  Final score: Eagles 38, Giants 3.

Arizona Cardinals @ Washington Redskins. This should be a good game and could go either way. That being said, the Redskins are healthier and should win at home.  Final score: Redskins 38, Cardinals 35.

LA Rams @ Seattle Seahawks. This is going to be an exciting game to watch, as the Rams head to take on a Seahawks team that is tough at home and is coming off of a chippy loss against Jacksonville.  Seahawks pull one out with the 12th man.  Final score: Seahawks 12, Rams 10.

New England Patriots @ Pittsburgh Steelers. The Patriots are coming off of a loss. The Patriots do not lose consecutive games. Patriots win and control the #1 seed.  Final score: Patriots 38, Steelers 35.

Tennessee Titans @ San Francisco 49ers. Jimmy Garoppolo is for real.  The 49ers win in surprising fashion at home this week.  Final score: 49ers 28, Titans 24.

Dallas Cowboys @ Oakland Raiders. This game could go either way, but the Raiders are way too inconsistent for my tastes this season. Cowboys win in a close one.  Final score: Cowboys 28, Raiders 27.

Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  The Bucs have the potential to be a good football team, but they can't seem to put things together this week.  Falcons win on the road.  Final score: Falcons 28, Buccaneers 3. --Mike B.